Hmong is an ancient nation with a splendid culture; and Miao Embroidery is a traditional embroidery art handed down from generation to generation. The Miao embroidery spread in Leishan County, Guiyang City, Jianhe County, and other places in Guizhou Province has different forms and styles. Miao embroidery was included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list on May 20, 2006.

Different from Su, Shu, and Xiang embroidery. Miao Embroidery is not a handicraft, but a daily necessity, which is mainly used in clothes. Miao Embroidery has become an important carrier reflecting the pursuit of happiness, longevity, and other good wishes and recording the development of the Miao nationality because of their lack of writing and several migrations in history.

Representative works

Hmong Bird Clothes (One of the most treasured pieces of the collection of the Chinese Clothing Museum)

Dragon Silver Necklace (Exhibited at Shanghai World Expo)

Historical legend

Miao Embroidery has become an important carrier reflecting the history of Miao nationality because of their own language , although they don’t have their own letters. Every beautiful pattern elaborately embroidered in great detail by Miao women corresponds to ancient myths, legends, and history of Miao nationality and it’s regarded as the cultural treasures handed down from one generation to generation.

Butterfly pattern-Mother Butterfly gave birth to the ancestor of the Miao nationality

The Miao ancient song sang, “The wind generated fog, the fog generated clouds, the clouds generated rain, therain generated trees, and thetrees became everything in the world”. In the legend of the Miao nationality, a goddess named Niuxiang rested in an ancient maple. The noise of the birds in the tree disturbed the goddess, and the goddess cut off the maple in her anger. A butterfly flew out of the tree's heart. This butterfly fell in love with the foam Youfang and laid twelve eggs. These twelve eggs gave birth to the twelve brothers: Jiang Yang, Lei Gong, Dragon King, Elephant, Ox, Sheep, Chicken, Snake, Centipede, Lynx, Tiger, and Dog. They are honored as the Twelve Ancestral Gods by the Miao people. The Miao people regard Jiang Yang, the head of the twelve brothers, as their ancestor. His mother, the butterfly, is always considered as the most respected totem of Miao nationality. It is also always embroidered in the most conspicuous position of the Miao clothing.

Bird pattern-a symbol of manhood esteem

In the story of Mother Butterfly, Mother Butterfly could not incubate the eggs by herself. It was the Ji Yu bird that hatched these eggs and created everything in the world. In Chi You’s mythology, it was the god bird that sent the message to the Miao people to let them escape from the coming flood, and it was also the god bird that took out grain and seeds from the stormy sea, which gave hope to the life continuation of Miao nationality. The god bird are strong, gritty, fearless, and brave to save the world, which isaccorded with that of men. The bird in Miao embroidery are always spreading their wings, meaning a strong power is sheltering the Miao nationality.

Modern forms

Miao Embroidery, as a traditional handicraft, has not derailed from the times but has burst into a new life at the front of fashion.Miao embroidery elements appeared in China International Fashion Week---Li Feng Miao Yun·Embroidered Dream China 2021 EVE CINA themed fashion show.

There are a wide variety of cultural and creative products around Miao embroidery---Guiyang delegation brings more than 100 cultural and creative products to the 2020 Shanghai International Import Expo.

At the Shanghai International Import Expo held in early November this year, there were also brilliant figures of Miao embroidery intangible cultural heritage. The Guiyang delegation brought more than a hundred cultural and creative products to the stage, showcasing the characteristics of the Miao nationality, which immersed culture in art and life.

Guiyang Flower Space Cultural Creative Co., Ltd. is committed to integrating intangible cultural heritage into daily life and has developed a series of Miao embroidery Jiwen products. Traditional embroidery and rich colors complement each other so that the little objects in life can also inherit the intangible cultural heritage.

This product uses the traditional Butterfly Mother totem to express praise and admiration for the Butterfly Mother again. As a special commemorative product launched in commemoration of 2020, this product alsoconveys the power of love and expresses the wish that the epidemic will eventually pass and new life will come soon.

Miao embroidery totem cooperates with makeup brand

Live webcast to help the inheritance of Miao embroidery under the epidemic.More and more exquisite Miao embroidery derivative products are constantly being introduced, such as round fans, handbags, earrings, cardholders, and so on.

Pictures from Youzhou Miao Embroidery Taobao Shop

As Chinese national intangible cultural heritage, Miao embroidery is a brilliant star in the long history of my country’s history and culture. It carries the ancient memories and brilliant culture of the Miao nationality, and it is also a unique treasure of the Chinese nation. It is the crystallization of the wisdom of the people because of the excellent cultural genes of our nation. Ensuring its inheritance and injecting new vitality into it is not only the protection of excellent traditional culture but also the needs of the country and the development of the nation. Besides Miao embroidery, there are many other excellent traditional skills in our country that are facing the dilemma of being lost. Protecting their inheritance is the protection of our national culture、the inheritance of our precious spiritual wealth, as well as the 5,000-year history of our country. continue!